Tips

Tips

Developing a UC Strategy

• Increased remote work requires evaluating collaboration costs

  Organizations taking advantage of free collaboration offerings during the pandemic must consider how collaboration costs will change as remote work continues.  Continue Reading

• Enterprise collaboration market upended as remote work surges

  The enterprise collaboration market is facing significant change as employees work from home. Find out what companies need to do to help their workers thrive in this new environment.  Continue Reading

• Reassessing unified communications tools in work-from-home era

  COVID-19 is ushering in a new normal for companies and their workspaces. UC managers must consider three factors when evaluating unified communications tools to support operations.  Continue Reading

• Legacy UC infrastructure issues hamstring remote work demand

  Hybrid cloud UC could be the answer to UC infrastructure problems that are making it difficult for remote workers to connect to their corporate networks.  Continue Reading

• How to approach livestreaming bandwidth management

  Livestreaming bandwidth management requirements will differ depending on whether organizations use a managed video service or take a DIY approach.  Continue Reading

• 4 benefits of deploying managed UC services

  Managed UC services offer organizations several benefits, including reduced management and maintenance requirements for IT, and enable users to communicate beyond corporate network boundaries.  Continue Reading

• 3 key threats undermining unified communications security

  Unified communications security means paying attention to the unique protocols supporting the technology. Here are three threats to watch for.  Continue Reading

• 5 key Microsoft Teams capabilities to support remote work

  Organizations looking to support remote employee productivity can take advantage of five Microsoft Teams capabilities that enhance remote collaboration and keep company data secure.  Continue Reading

• Remote work best practices emphasize UC collaboration tools

  Maintaining business continuity in times of crisis requires following remote work best practices that provide a consistent experience and keep employees productive.  Continue Reading

• Video key to coronavirus business continuity planning

  Coronavirus business continuity calls for video to support remote work mandates. Learn the benefits of video conferencing and best practices for video meetings among remote employees.  Continue Reading

• 5 cloud SLA best practices for a strong UC strategy

  Organizations need a strong cloud SLA to meet their UCaaS performance needs. These five cloud SLA best practices provide guidance on how to get the most out of a UCaaS provider's SLA.  Continue Reading

• UCaaS market verticals require custom platform features

  UCaaS market verticals have unique communications requirements. Most platforms now offer businesses more customizability to tailor features and integrations to meet specific needs.  Continue Reading

• On-premises vs. cloud vs. hybrid UC deployment models

  UC deployment has evolved, and enterprises can now choose from on-premises or cloud-based UC options or a mix of both. Find out how to decide which UC model is right for you.  Continue Reading

• 3 benefits of unified communications for small business

  Small businesses that adopt unified communications can expect to improve employee engagement, reduce costs and consolidate overlapping tools.  Continue Reading

• The top 5 CPaaS market trends to track in 2020

  Expect to see changes in the CPaaS market in 2020 as vendors focus on low-code/no-code development, omnichannel services and machine learning capabilities.  Continue Reading

• 5 video conferencing trends to watch in 2020

  It's shaping up to be an exciting year for video conferencing as vendors ramp up the competition with productivity-enhancing features. Check out the video conferencing trends driving the market in 2020.  Continue Reading

• Unified communications for small business goes beyond telephony

  Is your small business ready for UC? Learn how to build a UC strategy that addresses business goals, employee collaboration needs and IT requirements.  Continue Reading

• Test your PBX and phone system for Kari's Law compliance

  Starting in 2020, multiline phone systems must comply with Kari's Law. Learn what requirements your phone system must meet and how to test for Kari's Law compliance.  Continue Reading

• Microsoft Teams Rooms system offers benefits, hardware concerns

  Bringing Microsoft Teams to meeting rooms offers several collaboration benefits. But IT must carefully evaluate hardware options to get the most out of a Teams Rooms system.  Continue Reading

• How AI in the workplace will affect collaboration and job performance

  AI in the workplace can enhance unified communications and collaboration services. But IT decision-makers must consider three effects on employee collaboration and job roles.  Continue Reading

• Webex Teams vs. Microsoft Teams: Choosing the right platform

  Find out which collaboration platform is the best fit for your business in the Webex Teams vs. Microsoft Teams showdown. Compare security and collaboration tools, as well as price models.  Continue Reading

• Support external collaboration with guest access and federation

  Team collaboration tools support productivity for internal teams, but collaboration with external partners remains a challenge. Learn what features can open platforms to outside users.  Continue Reading

• Choosing SIP vs. PRI: What are the differences?

  SIP trunking and PRI both facilitate voice communications, but through very different capabilities. Learn the pros and cons of SIP vs. PRI, from costs to deployment models.  Continue Reading

• Cloud unified communications adoption still faces barriers

  Upgrade costs and security concerns were once the main barriers to cloud unified communications. But while vendors addressed those concerns, new barriers to adoption have emerged.  Continue Reading

• Craft collaboration metrics to enhance business benefits

  Collaboration metrics should focus on more than just how well platforms and tools function. Metrics should shift focus to how much collaboration tools improve a business.  Continue Reading

• Stand-alone vs. integrated collaboration: 3 factors to consider

  Moving from legacy communications is no small task. Three factors must be considered to ensure successful adoption of new integrated collaboration tools.  Continue Reading

• Hybrid video conferencing architecture bridges on premises, cloud

  Organizations that keep their video conferencing architecture on premises for investment or security reasons can gain the benefits of the cloud with a hybrid approach.  Continue Reading

• Maximize huddle room technology with collaboration metrics

  Organizations should use collaboration metrics with their huddle room technology to measure employee productivity and the effectiveness of collaboration technologies.  Continue Reading

• UC network automation improves IT efficiency

  UC network automation will help reduce errors and boost staff efficiency. But take time to plan your implementation to ensure success.  Continue Reading

• A collaboration program is essential for effective teamwork

  Learn what steps must be taken in order to create effective enterprise team collaboration in an era when IT no longer controls what applications and platforms workers choose to use.  Continue Reading

• How to manage hybrid cloud QoS in unified communications

  The two most common approaches to a hybrid UC configuration require different management techniques to maintain hybrid cloud QoS for voice, video and other real-time communications.  Continue Reading

• How to structure a VoIP budget when moving to the cloud

  When migrating to cloud communications, reevaluate your budgets to consolidate overlapping collaboration features, retire hardware and transition to an Opex model.  Continue Reading

• AI in cameras adds innovation to enterprise video conferencing

  Organizations that want to make the most of their meetings and develop new video use cases can turn to AI in cameras from cloud providers and video conferencing services.  Continue Reading

• 8 best practices to create a Microsoft Teams pilot program

  Unsure if implementing Microsoft Teams is right for your organization? Learn how a pilot program can help test the platform to determine if it meets user needs.  Continue Reading

• What are the benefits and disadvantages of video conferencing today?

  The advantages and disadvantages of video conferencing have evolved as video has become more accessible and affordable. Cultural changes have also influenced video adoption.  Continue Reading

• UCaaS vs. CCaaS: Weighing communications architecture integrations

  More organizations have a need to integrate UCaaS and CCaaS to support office and contact center workers. Two elements, in particular, will affect integration options.  Continue Reading

• How to address the challenges of adopting AI in communications

  Adopting AI can be a complex process. AI in communications can be especially challenging, but organizations can take certain steps to overcome these hurdles.  Continue Reading

• Business collaboration strategies differ between IT and LOBs

  IT and lines of business have different requirements for collaboration technology. Learn why conflicting priorities can lead to unsanctioned app deployments.  Continue Reading

• 6 reasons to keep your unified communications system on premises

  While many organizations are looking to the cloud for UC services, on- premises remains the reality for others. Learn which six factors fuel the decision to keep UC an on-premises deployment.  Continue Reading

• 8 best practices for adopting cloud video conferencing services

  Ready to migrate to cloud video conferencing? Keep these eight best practices in mind to pick a service that employees will use so you can achieve adoption success.  Continue Reading

• Make VoIP the starting point for hybrid communications

  Moving to VoIP is the first step toward creating a hybrid unified communications architecture. Learn how to test and maintain voice quality for a successful migration.  Continue Reading

• Microsoft Teams vs. Slack: 4 features to consider

  Does your IT department need help convincing users to move to Microsoft Teams? Four capabilities in particular in the Microsoft Teams vs. Slack debate can support a Teams adoption.  Continue Reading

• Business desk phones see changing role in the enterprise

  Desk phones seem to be going the way of the Dodo in favor of softphones and mobile clients. But research suggests organizations are finding new ways to use desk phones for business.  Continue Reading

• 3 best practices to future-proof your UC deployment

  Future-proofing UC can be difficult, as technology evolves and employee needs change. Learn three best practices to consider before investing in a UC deployment.  Continue Reading

• Where the UCaaS market is and where it's headed

  Fresh survey results from Nemertes show a dynamic market for UC as a service with some unpredictable impact on organizations and networking staff.  Continue Reading

• Top ways unified communications in the cloud affects you

  Rapid developments in cloud-based unified communications means there is no time to lose when it comes to planning the strategic and tactical reorganization of your IT team.  Continue Reading

• 5 UC and collaboration trends to watch in 2019

  As we close the door on 2018, look to the future of communication and collaboration trends that will influence the UC market landscape in 2019.  Continue Reading

• 2 key use cases of blockchain in communications

  Blockchain in communications can provide additional layers of UC security by reinforcing voice identity and privacy, while also protecting companywide collaboration.  Continue Reading

• New UC vendor trends shaping enterprise communications market

  With more enterprises looking for a single vendor to meet all of their communications needs, vendors are adding to their portfolios to create more complete communications offerings.  Continue Reading

• Huddle rooms create new meeting room management requirements

  New video conferencing tools don't require high-level support from IT and AV teams, which allows them to take a more strategic approach to management.  Continue Reading

• How chatbot AI in contact centers can improve self-service

  Deploying AI in contact centers can address IVR pain points and improve customer self-service with chatbots that create a conversational and streamlined customer experience.  Continue Reading

• Best practices for large video conferencing room design

  Large-room video conferencing systems are seeing renewed growth, as corporate mandates and employee demand drive enterprise deployments. Following best practices ensures the right design for large room video.  Continue Reading

• The hidden costs of unified communications in the cloud

  Many organizations expect to lower the costs of unified communications by adopting cloud communications, but that isn't always the case. Several factors influence costs when UC migrates to the cloud.  Continue Reading

• UCaaS market for next-generation features APIs, AI, more

  The market for unified communications as a service is getting crowded. To stand out, vendors must now offer next-gen features, such as AI and contact center integration.  Continue Reading

• Five steps to managing team collaboration apps

  Team collaboration management can be difficult when organizations are juggling multiple app deployments. But five steps can improve management of team collaboration across an organization.  Continue Reading

• Design huddle rooms to mirror team collaboration workflows

  Different teams conduct different types of meetings. As a result, small conference rooms should be customized to accommodate specific collaboration workflows.  Continue Reading

• Six tips to deploy a quality unified communications system

  In order to troubleshoot a unified communications system, IT leaders should have a written list of common problems and a description of how to resolve those issues.  Continue Reading

• Conference rooms of the future target meeting efficiency

  When overhauling your meeting room technology, don't forget the basics, such as high-speed network connectivity and power accessibility for all end users.  Continue Reading

• Video conference hardware simplified, affordable for huddle rooms

  Video conferencing vendors have aimed to simplify deployments with cost-effective kits that include cameras and audio peripherals for small meeting rooms.  Continue Reading

• Integrating apps helps spur digital workplace projects

  Building a digital workplace starts by integrating apps and customizing information, so workers can be more productive and efficient across locations and devices.  Continue Reading

• IT staffs see changing roles amid cloud UC

  IT roles are shifting, as more companies adopt cloud services. IT staffs must now ensure they are leading the adoption of new capabilities that deliver business value.  Continue Reading

• Digital whiteboard market poses promise and pitfalls

  Touchscreen whiteboards enhance content sharing and visual collaboration amid persistent workflows. But these newfangled products do have their limitations.  Continue Reading

• The five unified communications apps you need

  The pillars of unified communications -- voice, video, messaging, conferencing and mobility -- help organizations construct well-rounded collaboration plans.  Continue Reading

• How to consolidate unified communications platforms

  Unified communications providers now offer several features across their platforms. Organizations that align with a single vendor could cut costs and simplify deployments.  Continue Reading

• Track these six UC and collaboration trends in 2017

  The 2017 forecast for unified communications trends includes a flurry of APIs, a steady stream of video, a team-messaging tempest and, of course, a high chance of clouds.  Continue Reading

• Integrate contact center and unified communications platforms

  The lines are blurring between contact center and unified communications platforms, as team messaging capabilities help agents collaborate and resolve customer issues.  Continue Reading

• UC, contact-center integration rife with obstacles

  If enterprises are looking to integrate unified communications and contact-center services, they'll need to overcome any concerns they have about cloud technology.  Continue Reading

• How to manage Cisco and Microsoft UC integration

  Client complexities, overlapping apps and different user interfaces are just some of the challenges IT leaders juggle when managing Cisco and Microsoft integrations.  Continue Reading

• Cisco Spark, Slack ignite fledgling team messaging market

  Emerging team messaging platforms have great potential. Cisco Spark, in particular, is poised to affect the UC market, but widespread enterprise adoption remains unclear.  Continue Reading

• Team chat apps tap into enterprises, challenge UC clients

  Enterprises are starting to adopt business chat apps, as they incorporate more robust features. The line is blurring between these apps and more established UC platforms.  Continue Reading

• Contracting unified communications industry could benefit buyers

  Cloud services are both maturing and contracting the unified communications industry. But this market shift should benefit prospective buyers via aggressive product discounts.  Continue Reading

• Three key questions for a successful hybrid deployment of UC

  Managing on-premises and cloud-based apps is quite the balancing act. Enterprises need to determine how important each application is to their overall UC vision.  Continue Reading

• Immersive group collaboration breaks down conference room walls

  Meeting rooms are getting a makeover as visual workspace systems aim to enhance collaboration among distributed teams. But enterprises need to 'try before you buy.'  Continue Reading

• Is the Google Hangouts app becoming a pure enterprise play?

  Skype for Business? How about Hangouts for Business? Google has unbundled consumer-centric communication apps from Hangouts, leaving it to focus squarely on enterprises.  Continue Reading

• CPaaS fuses communications apps with business workflows

  Communications platform as a service, or CPaaS, can fortify business processes. But IT leaders need to educate internal developers on the availability of these emerging tools.  Continue Reading

• Google collaboration tools strong, but telephony lacking

  Searching for Google UC services? The company offers strong cloud, collaboration and mobility features, but telephony and third-party integrations are limited.  Continue Reading

• Unified communications management before and after deployment

  Organizations can minimize operational costs and maximize user satisfaction with proactive unified communications management and testing before and after deployment.  Continue Reading

• UC management provides enterprises with cloud controls

  When migrating a unified communications system to the cloud, investigate providers' security practices, ensure redundant Internet connections and consider using proxy servers.  Continue Reading

• The top five UC technology trends to watch in 2016

  According to one expert, the future of unified communications should see more API adoption, video conferencing in small meeting rooms and vendor consolidation.  Continue Reading

• ROI template helps calculate UCaaS costs, benefits

  When plotting an ROI template for UCaaS, companies need to go beyond measuring costs and consider the positive impact to business processes, such as faster application upgrades.  Continue Reading

• Four technologies impacting enterprise communication

  Smartphones, video, messaging and freemium services are shaking up enterprise communications. Enterprises must prepare for the impact of these trends on employee communication and workflows.  Continue Reading

• Measuring the business benefits of unified communications

  Workflow analytics, such as finding correlations between collaboration capabilities and product development efficiency, can pinpoint the business benefits of unified communications.  Continue Reading

• UC vendors must focus on deliverance, not dominance

  In a shared economy, unified communications vendors need to embrace an open ecosystem of integrated services for long-term success. But with these changes, some challenges lurk.  Continue Reading

• Top WebRTC use cases for contact centers

  While many enterprises ought to explore their own WebRTC use cases, contact centers are leading the way in adoption of the browser-based technology.  Continue Reading

• SDN can help network, real-time UC apps communicate

  Software-defined networking can facilitate communications between the network and UC apps, including call management and packet forwarding.  Continue Reading

• How to evaluate UCaaS providers' security measures

  Make sure potential UCaaS providers address multi-tenancy management, end-to-end encryption and session border controller issues for added security.  Continue Reading

• UC training, certifications are mostly vendor-specific

  The industry may lack vendor-neutral certifications, but hands-on UC training can help workers master products, advance their careers and boost their salaries.  Continue Reading

• What UC costs: The real TCO of unified communications

  The total cost of ownership for unified communications has risen significantly since 2012. Learn why and which vendors offer the best value.  Continue Reading

• Defining an enterprise strategy to reap social media benefits

  In order to reap social media benefits, enterprises must define a social media strategy, which includes revisiting technology and security policies.  Continue Reading

• Mobile device adoption alters UC strategies

  As the BYOD revolution unfurls, enterprises find that mobile device adoption requires an alteration to current unified communications (UC) strategies.  Continue Reading

• Understanding unified communications components

  You must first understand unified communications components before selecting a UC product, service or determining an organization's needs.  Continue Reading

• SIP trunking service adoption growth driven by WAN strategy alignment

  As SIP trunking adoption increases, more enterprises want to align the technology with their WAN strategies. Learn about the benefits and challenges of that alignment.  Continue Reading

• Adding up the real costs of so-called 'free' Microsoft Lync

  Using Microsoft Lync as a corporate UC system is cheap -- free, even, right? While Lync licenses are free, installing Lync may cost more than you’ve bargained for.  Continue Reading

• Robust WLAN infrastructure key to strategic mobile UC

  Having a robust WLAN infrastructure is no longer a convenience, it's a necessity. Modern WLAN deployments are costly, but there's a silver lining enterprises often overlook.  Continue Reading

• Understanding the real meaning of pervasive video

  Pervasive video and ubiquitous video conferencing are not interchangeable terms. Knowing the real meaning of pervasive video may change the standard approach to video deployment.  Continue Reading

• Federated identity management key to SaaS office and cloud-based UC

  Federated identity management addresses the security risks associated with identity management while providing users SSO to multiple cloud-based UC services and SaaS office apps.  Continue Reading

• Top 5 trends in enterprise IP telephony

  What comes after full-scale IP telephony deployment? There are five important trends shaping the future of enterprise IP telephony.  Continue Reading

• The future of IP telephony still trapped in the PBX era

  The future of IP telephony and the IP PBX is still locked in the PBX era. Enterprises need to stop treating IP telephony systems like TDM systems.  Continue Reading

• The truth about five nines availability in unified communications networks

  Five nines availability is attainable with traditional telecommunications networks, but is it attainable with a unified communications network? This tip explains how to calculate availability and how it relates to unified communications software and...  Continue Reading

• Legacy devices and analog telephone lines still useful, despite VoIP

  Supporting legacy devices and analog telephone lines will be part of your due diligence well into the foreseeable future despite the high rate of VoIP and IP telephony deployments. Find out which legacy interfaces you can expect to use in the future...  Continue Reading